The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-12-16
protection 10 our manufactures than 70
our other important enterprises.
NOW rs TIE TIME.


NOW Ts TIE TIME.
An opportunity for safe, careful and
deliberate reform Is now offered, and
none Of rs should be unrnindfuI that q
time may come when an abused and ir-
, ritated people, needless Of those who
have resisted timely and reasonable re-
lief, may insist upon radical and
sweeping reclidcation of their wrongs.
The difficulty attending wise and
fair revision Of our tariff laws Is not
under.estimated. II viii require ON the
part Of congress, great labor and care,
and especially broad and national con-
temptation Of the subject and patriotic
disregard Of such local and selfish claims
as are unreasonable and reckless Of the
welfare OF the entire country.
Under our present laws, more than
1000 articles are subject 10 duty. Many
Of these do not in any way compete with
our own manufactures, and many are
hardy worth attention as subjects Of
revenue. considerable reduction can
be made in the aggregate by adding them
10 the fiee list. The taxation Of luxuries
presents no features Of hardship, but the
nccessaries Of life, used and consumed
by all people, the duty upon which adds
10 the cost of living III every home, should
be greatly cheapcned.
raw MATERIAL
The radical reduction OF the duties inn
posed upon raw material used in manu-
iac,ures, or its free importation, IL Of
course an important factor in any effort
TO reduce the price Of these necessaries.
II would not only relieve them from the
increased cost caused by the tariff on
snca material, but the manufactured
product being thus cheapened, that part
OF the tariff now laid upon such product
as compensation 10 our manufacturers
for the present price Of raw material
could be accordingly modified. Such re-
duction or free importation would serve
beside largely to reduce the revenne. 1t
| IL not apparent how such a change can
have any injurious effect upon our man
ufacturers. On the contrary, Il would
appear to give them a better chance In
foreign markets with the manufacturers
of other countries who cheaper their
wares by free material. Thus our peo-
pie might have the opportunity Of ex-
tending their sales beyond the limits Of
home consumption. saving them from
the depression, interruption in business,
and loss caused by a glutied domestic
market, and affording their employees
more certain and steady labor. with it,
resulting quiet and contentmens.
DEMANDED ny PARTY CONSIDERATIONS.
THE question thus imperatively pre-
sented for solution should be approached
in spirit higher than partisanship, and
considered in the light Of that regard for
patriotic duty which should characterize
wealth Of confding people. But the
obligation TO declared party policy and
principle is not wanting TO urge prompt
and effective action. Both Of the great
political parties now represented in the
government have, by repeated and an-
thorifive declarations, condemned the
condition Of our laws, which permit
the collection from the people Of unne-
cessary revenue and have in the most
solemn manner promised q reduction
and neither as citizens or partisans arc
our countrymen in a mood to condone
the deliberate violations Of these
pledges.
Our progress toward a wise conclusion
will not be improved by dwelling upor
the theories OF protection and free trade
This savors too much Of bandying epi
/ thets. II il = condition that confrontl
e us--not theory. Relief from this con
e dition may involve slight reduction o
y the advantages which we award on
: home productions; but the entire with
3 drawal of such advantages should not b.
'e contemplated. The question of fire.
4 trade is absolutely irrelevant, and tn
'e persistent claim made in certain quarter
y that all efforts to relieve the people iron
unjust land unnecessary taxation ar
D. schemes OF the so-called free traders, i
mischievous and far removed from an
- consideration for the public good. TIL
simple and plain duty which We owe th
= people is to reduce taxation to the ne,
o' essary expenses of an economical oper'
= tion OF the government, and to restore
ae the business of the country the none
'n which we hold in the treasury throue
- the perversion OF governmental power
y These things can and should be dor
y with safety to all our industries, witho,
u danger TO the opportunity for renumer
ss !. tive labor which our workingmen nee,
~ and with benefit TO them and all OF
people, by cheapening their means
o. subsistence and increasing the measul
- of their comforts.
81 IN CONCLUSION.
,an IT. 49, a